"That’s contempt of court," Stoddart said, sending LaCroix to the House of Correction in Billerica for 10 days.

LaCroix was already going to be held. Along with the $50,000 bail Stoddart set, the judge also revoked bail on four open cases, meaning LaCroix would be held without bail for 60 days.

LaCroix, 22, of Marlborough, is accused of robbing two women on Tuesday, Charles said.

On Tuesday around 2:30 p.m. outside Walgreens on Waverly Street an 89-year-old woman said two men ripped her purse from her arm and ran. A second woman told police she was robbed around 5 p.m. in a driveway on Temple Street. She said the man shoved her to the ground and took her purse, Charles said.

On Tuesday afternoon, another woman used a credit card from the first woman’s purse at the Waverly Street Walgreens, the prosecutor said.

The following day, police were at the store investigating when LaCroix entered with David Griffin, 24 . Store employees told police LaCroix is the same person who was in Walgreens the day of the robbery.

LaCroix told police he was staying at Griffin’s 29 Hilton St. home. At the home, Griffin’s mother told police what LaCroix was wearing the prior day and it matched the description of what the suspect was wearing in each robbery, Charles said. She also admitted she "disposed" of one of the purses.

She also described LaCroix’s mother, who matched the description of the woman who used the stolen credit card. Police spoke to her, and she admitted her son gave it to her.

"She said her son told her he robbed an old lady at knifepoint," said Charles. "She indicated the defendant ‘Is crazy,’ and addicted to heroin."

She said LaCroix also asked her to sell an iPod for him. He told her the iPod was in the purse of the woman who had been robbed on Temple Street, Charles said.

Neither Griffin’s mother nor LaCroix’s mother have been charged.

At the police station, LaCroix told police, "I (expletive) up," Charles said. Also when police initially told him he was going to be charged with assault and battery on an elderly person, he said "How can I be charged with that crime. I took it from her cart, not her person."

Police searched Griffin’s home and did not find any evidence of the robbery, but found several small bags of heroin.

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Police charged LaCroix, of 13 Priscilla Drive, with unarmed robbery of an elderly person. Griffin was charged with possession of heroin with the intent to distribute.

In asking for the $15,000 bail, Charles cited LaCroix's lengthy criminal record, which includes several open cases. In Marlborough he is charged with assault and battery, Westborough police charged him with uttering and Worcester police charged with larceny by check. Charles did not ask for bail for Griffin.

LaCroix’s lawyer, Cornelius Dailey Jr., asked the judge to focus on the fact that neither victim can identify the purse-snatcher. He also argued that LaCroix had strong ties to the community.

"You’re in a tough spot," said Stoddart. "This sounds like a great case."

Both LaCroix and Griffin are due back in court on Feb. 7 for a pretrial conference.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com .For up-to-date crime news, follow Norman Miller on Twitter at @Norman_MillerMW.